Revenge for NZ sevens
GETTY IMAGES THE New Zealand women’s sevens team has avenged their Rio Olympics gold medal match defeat to Australia, beating their trans-Tasman rivals to win the Dubai Sevens.
Rookie Rebekah CorderoTufuga scored a try in each half after veteran Portia Woodman opened the scoring in the convincing 17-5 victory in the tournament final yesterday.
There was something extra in the post-match celebrations for the New Zealand side, who missed out on a gold medal in Rio in a 24-17 loss. The team performed their own haka after receiving their gold medals and tournament trophy.
‘‘I’m so happy right now,’’ said captain Sarah Goss. ‘‘We’ve got a new team, new management and to beat Australia is great. To come back after the Olympics, it was tough, but to beat Australia in probably my favourite tournament, is so exhilirating for me.’’
Woodman, who was sin-binned in the Rio Olympics final, raced 80m to score the opening try in the second minute. After some stoic defence, player of the final Kelly Brazier stepped through the Australian defence just 10m out from the NZ line and found Cordero-Tufuga with a long pass for a 60m sprint to the line. Tyla Nathan-Wong’s conversion off the left upright gave Allan Bunting’s side a 12-0 halftime lead.
When Cordero-Tufuga added her second in the 11th minute, New Zealand had their first women’s world series tournament title since April 2015 in sight. Emilee Cherry added a consolation try in the 13th minute for Australia to avoid the shutout.
Earlier, Michaela Blyde followed up her five tries during pool play the previous day with a hat-trick against South Africa in a 39-0 quarterfinal rout and another two against Russia in a 24-5 semifinal win, taking her tournament tally to 10.
Meanwhile, the new era for the New Zealand men’s sevens team under interim co-coaches Tomasi Cama and Scott Waldrom started with victories over Russia and Samoa before a loss to England in pool play.
New Zealand – in their first season not under the guidance of legendary coach Gordon Tietjens – were no match for England, falling behind 12-0 at halftime and only briefly threatening a comeback in the second half.
Earlier, DJ Forbes led the team out against Samoa in his record breaking 80th tournament appearance and almost scored with his second touch of the ball, pulled down short of the line. Sione Molia crossed seconds later to get the season under way.
Led by Waldrom and Cama, New Zealand didn’t show too many new tricks early on, but were mistake-free and accurate on their return to the world series. But within two minutes, Beaudein Waaka walked off the field gingerly, evoking memories of Dubai in 2015 when seven of New Zealand’s 12 players were injured.